Page:Waylaid by Wireless - Balmer - 1909.djvu/321

Rh captain, who professes to admire Mr. Manling so greatly, that he might have managed to have these articles sold to Mr. Preston as—

"As he sold him his height, complexion, eyes, and hair, Miss Varris?" the captain asked satirically. "I will answer a Yankee question like a Yankee. Do you believe that yourself?"

The girl flushed.

"No," she said honestly, "I do not believe that that was the way he did it. I don't know how he does it, but—"

"Oh, I forgot to mention, Miss Varris," the captain broke her off impatiently, "as I did not think it would be needed, that the police have told me that they have finally fixed the identity of the thief at Southampton with the American who, under the name of Preston, bought the upper berth in the released cabin of Mrs. A. H. Burrett. The agent has recognized his description as the man whom he placed in that cabin with an Englishman named Mr. Dunneston. I think that is all."

293